FURIOUS business leaders warned last night that a town will be thrown into chaos next week when three of its five car parks close to make way for a new supermarket.

They are angry that Holywell’s economy is being “put in jeopardy” by Flintshire County Council’s failure to provide alternative car parks.

And to make matters worse for the workers who depend on them, the council has just appointed a traffic warden to patrol Holywell as part of a crackdown on illegal parking.

Tesco starts work on its new Bank Place supermarket next week. As part of its planning deal with the county council, agreed a year ago, it gave Flintshire £500,000 to build alternative parking.

But last week the supermarket giant, whose start plans were delayed because of a legal wrangle over diverting sewers, gave notice to Flintshire that it now needed the land at Station Road, Bank Place and Lower Tower Gardens – a total of 174 parking spaces.

Flintshire council has, however, got no alternatives ready.

Town centre manager Medwyn Roberts warned: “It will cause chaos, not so much for shoppers because short-term parking will still be available, but for the shop workers and business people.

“They are sacrificing the economy of Holywell. I find it unbelievable they can wait until now and haven’t even started on that car park.

“There will be chaos. People will be parking anywhere and everywhere.”

Holywell-based solicitor Gwyn Bartley is one of the many businessmen who has a £60 annual parking permit, to use the council car parks.

“It’s absolute nonsense. We have five long-stay car parks and three of them close on Sunday without any replacements being provided by the council.

“It should not have been beyond the wit of the council to sell Tesco the land with conditions attached that they had to wait until they first built an alternative.”

Peter Jones, chairman of Holywell Chamber of Commerce added: “I think it will have a devastating effect on the town.”

A spokesman for Flintshire County Council said: “There are existing long stay car parks at Plas yn Dre and Well Street, which will still be available for use.

“We are looking to install a new long-stay car park at Halkyn Road, adjacent to the new hospital, and it is hoped this will be completed and operational before the end of the year.”